Page 71 of Blackwood

A ruckus in the hallway had the sheriff on his feet with a hand on his gun. He hurried to the door and peered out.

I shuddered, a tremor shooting through me at the thought of more danger, more violence. Clenching the sheets between my hands, I stared at the door and imagined any number of horrors coming for me.

“Where is she?” Garrett’s voice, wheezing but still strong, shot into the room.

Sheriff Crow relaxed.

“Don’t.” My voice was barely above a whisper.

“Don’t what?” He glanced over his shoulder at me.

I stared at the door, then glanced back to him.

He seemed to understand and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“Garrett, calm down. You aren’t well.”

“Where the fuck is she?” he roared.

I cowered, my entire body shaking right down to my soul.

“Garrett, you shouldn’t be up.”

“Is she in there?” A scuffle erupted outside the door. “Red! Red!”

“Garrett, stop!”

More scuffling, and the door burst open. Garrett ran in, blood soaking through the gauze over his chest. Wild eyes, hair even wilder, he lunged toward the bed. I screamed and held out my hands as a pathetic defense.

Confusion crossed his eyes before Sheriff Crow tackled him to the ground. I stared down at the struggling mass on the floor, and only sank back into the bed when Sheriff Crow clicked his cuffs on Garrett’s wrists.

“Calm the fuck down, boy.” The sheriff clambered to his feet and pulled Garrett up with him. “Doc!” he yelled out into the hallway.

“What happened?” Garrett still tried to surge toward me even as I pushed back into the pillows. “Who did this to you?” Rage infused his words, and I almost believed it. Almost.

“You know who did it.” I hated the quaver in my voice, the weakness I’d just shown.

“How would I know who?” He shook his head before glowering. “All I know is I’ll fucking kill him.”

“What in seven hells?” Dr. Lewis poked his head through the door.

“You need to check him.” Sheriff Crow yanked on Garrett’s arm to try and pull him from the room.

“No, you need to tell me who hurt you. Now, Red.” Garrett strained against the sheriff’s hold, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Come on now. I’ll put you next door so you can calm down.” Sheriff Crow pulled again, but Garrett wouldn’t budge. “It was Danny, all right? Now come on.”

Garrett rattled his cuffs. “I’ll fucking kill him.”

Sheriff Crow slumped a little, his shoulders pitching forward. “You won’t have to. I already did.”

“Red, tell me what the hell is going o—”

“You need help, Sheriff?” Rory had arrived in the hallway.

“Just keep an eye on her. Come on, Garrett. Let the doc patch you up, and I’ll tell you what happened.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

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